MIDWAY PRODUCTION NOTES https://www.lionsgatepublicity.com/theatrical/midway For more information, please contact: Meghann Burns Lionsgate 2700 Colorado Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90404 P: 310-255-3999 E: [email protected] MIDWAY LIONSGATE ENTERTAINMENT Official Site: Publicity Materials: http://www.lionsgatepublicity.com/theatrical/midway/ Facebook: @MidwayMovie Twitter: @MidwayMovie Instagram: @MidwayMovie Hashtag: #MidwayMovie Genre: Action, Drama Rating: PG-13 For sequences of war violence and related images, language and smoking. U.S. Release Date: November 8, 2019 Running Time: 138 minutes Cast: Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Aaron Eckhart, Nick Jonas, Etsushi Toyokawa, Tadanobu Asano, Luke Kleintank, Jun Kunimura, Darren Criss, Keean Johnson, Alexander Ludwig, with Mandy Moore, Dennis Quaid and Woody Harrelson Directed by: Roland Emmerich Written by: Wes Tooke Produced by: Harald Kloser Credits not contractual SYNOPSIS: MIDWAY centers on the Battle of Midway, a clash between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy which marked a pivotal turning point in the Pacific Theater during WWII. The film, based on the real-life events of this heroic feat, tells the story of the leaders and sailors who used their instincts, fortitude and bravery to overcome the odds. ONE-LINE: The story of the Battle of Midway, told through the experiences of the WWII leaders and sailors who fought it. 2 MIDWAY “You could ask, how could I fly against these odds, knowing that I probably wasn’t going to come back. Those men were my brothers. I would have flown with them straight into hell. - Dick Best MIDWAY centers on the Battle of Midway, a clash between the American fleet and Imperial Japanese Navy, which marked a turning point in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The film, based on the real-life events of this heroic feat, tells the story of the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude and bravery to overcome the odds. It’s a real-life story of brotherhood and camaraderie, and the determination and sacrifice of real-life military heroes, to secure an American victory. Having been decimated by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor only six months earlier, the U.S. Navy was desperately outmanned and outgunned heading into the Battle of Midway. The U.S. military held on to one great advantage: its intelligence operations and collective grit, were strongly underestimated. MIDWAY takes audiences deep inside the complex decision- making of the United States’ tactical command – and then straps them inside a bomber cockpit to experience the most visceral on-screen telling, of the greatest battle in U.S. warfare history. MIDWAY director Roland Emmerich is a master of cinematic spectacle, with a legendary career ranging from science fiction blockbusters, like Independence Day, to historical epics, like The Patriot. In addition to his signature scope and scale, the acclaimed filmmaker’s work is always grounded in relatable themes, fully realized characters, and the emotional power of hope. MIDWAY continues in this proud tradition, and is a true passion project almost twenty years in the making. “I’m thrilled that we had the opportunity to tell this story, because young people today don’t always know the stories about those who fought for their freedom,” he says. “I think that without the generation who fought in WWII, our world would be very different. There was a lot of hardship and a lot of people died for it, but they died for a reason. There was a real fight against fascism going on in the world. Today we sometimes forget about these things, but movies can serve as a vivid monument to them. We wanted to honor that fight and those who gave so much.” Emmerich envisioned a fresh look at this pivotal battle told for a new generation, with characters who share powerful bonds. “Our film follows three story lines, depicting three interwoven perspectives on the battle,” Emmerich continues. “One is the pilots aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, mainly Dick Best, Clarence Dickinson, and Bruno Gaido, who 3 are historical figures. A second storyline follows the critical work of Naval Intelligence officer Edwin Layton; a code breaker, Joseph Rochefort; and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz in Pearl Harbor. The third storyline centers on the Japanese officers, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, and Japanese officers Tamon Yamaguchi, Kaku Tomeo and Chūichi Nagumo, who are historical characters, as well.” “The Battle of Midway is one of the most fascinating stories of World War II,” says producer Harald Kloser, who has been working with Emmerich for over 15 years. “Midway is the event that transformed the war in the Pacific, basically preserving democracy and freedom in the U.S. and the Western world. This was the day freedom was won.” Executive Producer Marco Shepherd attests that Emmerich has wanted to make MIDWAY for almost two decades. “Roland has been fascinated by the stories behind the men who sacrificed, and risked their lives to fight in this incredible naval battle” he says. Screenwriter Wes Tooke first discussed MIDWAY with Emmerich while they were collaborating on another project. “Roland mentioned that he’d always been fascinated with the Battle of Midway, which intrigued me because my grandfather had served in the Navy,” explains Tooke. “The moment he said that, I wanted to be involved. I’ve been fascinated since childhood with military history, in particular WWII and the Pacific Theater. The scope of it and the changes that happened over the six-month period between Pearl Harbor and Midway are some of the most compelling events in history. I knew Roland could tell that story in a way it’s never been told.” The courage of the young men rising to the challenges of war truly impressed the filmmakers. “What really moved me was the willingness, and the spirit, behind those who suffered from the attack on Pearl Harbor,” says Shepherd. “This battle has inspired many other stories, particularly in science fiction, for which Roland is celebrated. You can even see allusions of Independence Day in this film. But most of all, it’s about the fight against an idea that was starting to consume the world at the time.” Dennis Quaid, who plays Admiral William “Bull” Halsey, was certain that Emmerich, who had directed him in the blockbuster film The Day After Tomorrow, could deliver the goods on all fronts. “Roland shows audiences what they have never seen before, and does it in a way that makes you believe,” he points out. “I knew he would bring the same movie magic and his particular style and mastery to MIDWAY, which is an amazing story.” Unlike science fiction, however, MIDWAY is firmly based in historical facts, which reveal themselves throughout the course of the film. One of the things that made telling this story so 4 compelling for Tooke is how new insight has allowed us to see the battle more clearly and completely. “There was a huge amount of Japanese military history that had not made it over to the U.S.,” he explains. “When we began this project, I was fascinated to discover this wave of new scholarship, where the Japanese side of the story was finally being told in English in a way that it had never been before.” “Roland insisted that we make every effort to make all aspects of the film, as accurate as possible,” Tooke continues. “Everything that happens onscreen, in terms of historical events, is factual and in chronological order. It begins in December 1941 with Pearl Harbor and ends in June with the Battle of Midway. It is the most dramatic six months in the history of warfare.” CHARACTERS Dick Best (ED SKREIN) Dick Best is the unsung hero of MIDWAY, a tough-as-nails Jersey guy, and a Navy flyboy working his way up the chain of command as WWII unfolds. A natural leader despite a tendency to get short with guys who aren’t as daring as he is, Best is a risk-taker whose flying skills are first rate; he is the one to fly with if you want to come back. Best is a true American hero whose exemplary performance, both leading his men and courageously flying his plane during the Midway battle, resulted directly in turning the tide of war. “There’s a real emotional journey for Best,” says Ed Skrein, who takes on the role. “You see several versions of Best throughout the story. First, there’s the cocky guy who turns off his plane’s engine to prove to himself he knew how to land without it. After Pearl Harbor, you see the relentless Best, who’s on a one-man mission to win the war. During the war, Best loses some pilot friends, which begins a dark night of the soul for Best, and we see him at his absolute lowest. “Best only opens up to two people: his wife, Ann, and his closest friend, Clarence Dickinson,” Skrein continues. “They help him overcome his losses and we ultimately see a Best with all of his old qualities and emotional literacy and intelligence. He is a true leader of his men.” “Dick Best has been overlooked, in a way,” says Kloser. “He was a humble guy, and Midway was his last battle because of an injury sustained while flying. He actually never flew again. In this story, Best stands for all those unsung heroes who fought for our freedom.” 5 Best’s relationship with Ann and daughter Barbara was a key element that drew Skrein to the project. “What happened at the Battle of Midway changed the world, but this story is also rooted in a man whose strength and lifeline is his family,” he notes.